Page 123 of Lyric Squared

I loosened the grip on my stomach and relaxed my body, happy that whatever pregnancy pain I was having had subsided. Nevertheless, I unlocked my phone and opened the text thread for Keanu and me.

Pregnancy isn’t for the weak. Paralyzing lower abdomen pains are going to take me out, I sent him.

“Lyric?” a familiar voice called out.

I snapped my neck in its direction after looking up from my phone. It wasn’t exactly anyone I wanted to or expected to see,but I still mustered a smile. I assumed that smile was inviting enough for them to slide into the booth that I was occupying – but on the opposite side.

“Collin, how have you been?” I asked as if I cared.

I didn’t. I’d successfully offboarded him as a client and referred him to an amazing accountant. I was doing the same for all of my clients. Once March ended, the only people on my roster would have the same last name as me.

“Decent, I guess. Did you get a number change? I’ve been hitting you up from time to time.”

“No,” I admitted, “I didn’t get a number change. After I explained that I didn’t want to be in a relationship and why, I assumed you wouldn’t attempt to contact me outside of business. So, when I see your number on my phone, I’m always conflicted. I’m in a relaaaaaaaaaa. Oh my God.”

With my hand pressed against my stomach, I hunched forward and closed my eyes once again. The pain that I’d felt a minute or two ago was nothing in comparison to what I was feeling this time. My ears rang loudly as everything around me disappeared. Suddenly, I nauseousness flooded me. I wasn’t sure if I needed to puke or find medicine to halt the throbbing of my head.

All the energy I’d had seconds ago was depleted as I felt my body weaken. Small beads of sweats lined my forehead. I could feel the moisture as it seeped from my pores. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I opened my eyes and stared at the water on the table. I wanted it, desperately, but didn’t have the strength to grab it. Neither could I form the words to ask Collin for it.

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I unlocked my phone using face recognition and clicked Keanu’s contact. I’d never experienced pregnancy, but I knew that whatever I was experiencing wasn’t normal. In fact, it was the scariest thing I’dever experienced. Unable to put the phone to my ear, I activated the speaker. By the time his voicemail came on after ringing out, the pain was subsiding.

“Lyric? Lyric!” Collin called out to me.

“Huh?”

“What’s the matter? Are you okay?”

Fear sat in as I retried Keanu’s number.

“No. I need to reach my boyfriend,” I cried as fresh tears fell down my face.

Again, his voicemail followed a series of rings. Frustrated and fearful, anxiety crept in. The urge to go to the bathroom caused me to raise from my seat. The thought of destroying the area around me and other’s dining experience pushed me to my feet. But, as soon as I stood, I regretted my attempt immediately. The restaurant began to spin and the realization that I couldn’t manage my body weight hit me simultaneously.

“Lyric,” Collin called out, “you’re bleeding.”

Instinctively, my hand grabbed the back of my dress, throwing my balance off completely. Darkness followed. Silence was right behind it.

EIGHTEEN

“You niggas ain’t fuckingwith me. Run me my fucking check!” I boasted, pounding my chest as we ended the fourth game.

I’d won three of them. I was up twelve thousand, hoping for another four bands. Sixteen thousand to start my kid’s life’s savings wasn’t shabby at all. Thanks to their uncles, they’d be off to a good start.

“Before I whoop your ass in this next game, I need a minute.”

“This nigga getting old.” I huffed. “I’m going to take a leak and sip some water. When I get back, prepare to give up them other two stacks. Both of you niggas.”

“Whatever, nigga. Don’t act like you don’t know what’s up!” Laike yelled as I made my way into the restroom. Luca had already parked it on the bench.

“You ain’t won a game. You don’t get to talk. You should’ve just stayed your ass at home.”

“I hurt my ankle as soon as we started playing. If I wasn’t half-injured, I’d be walking away with twenty of them thangs, nigga.”

“Yeah, aight. Whatever makes you feel better.”

I ducked off into the restroom to empty my bladder. The first urinal was never an option for me, so I chose the last one closest to the other wall of the restroom. My basketball shorts lowered with ease. As I released the long, thick stream, my thoughts gravitated towards Lyric. I couldn’t wait for the moment I was able to kick shit with Luca and Laike without having to bottle up all the good things about her and about our relationship that I wanted to tell them.

Like about her pregnancy and how I couldn’t wait for my son to whoop Luca’s son’s ass in basketball or how my daughter was going to be a top model. I imagined them with skin as dark as mine, even with Lyric’s genes in the equation. She, too, wanted chocolate babies with eyes that resembled her brown ones. Our genes would be a deadly combination, and I could hardly wait to see what we’d created.